Switch mechanism for trolleysupported panels



Sept w, 1967 E. R. HAws ETAL SWITCH MECHANISM FOR TROLLEY-SUPPORTED PANELS Filed OC.. '7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 G INVENTOR? [QM-5r ROBERT HAM/s In B6? BERT W. P/pER Sept. i9, 1967 E. R. HAws ETAL 3,341,985

ED PANELS SWITCH MECHANISM FOR TROLLEY-SUPPORT Filed OC.. 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTo/z? ERNEST ROBERT HAM/5 E? BERT W PIPER ArroRNEv Sept l9, i967 E. R. HAws ETAL 3,341,985

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR TROLLEY-SUPPORTED PANELS Filed Oct. 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7ERNE5T @GEERT HAM/5 BY HERr w P/PER d4/nw we; M ATTURNEYS Sept. 19, 1967 E. R. HAws ETAL 3,341,985

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR TROLLEY-SUFYORTED PANELS Filed om. v, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.5

fR/Vfsr RoEHr HAws BYKBERT l/V. P/PER L30 285m, 5MM@ M United States Patent O 3,341,985 SWITCH MECHANISM FOR TROLLEY- SUPPORTED PANELS Ernest Robert Haws, Allen Park, and Bert Piper,

Redford Township, Wayne County, Mich., assignors to Robert Haws Co., Melvindale, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 402,149 13 Claims. (Cl. 52-1) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The arrangement of this invention includes a main track on which a plurality of trolley-supported panels are adapted to be arranged in end-to-end relation to .form a partition and a pair of storage tracks intersectmg the main track and extending transversely thereto. At the 1ntersections of the storage track with the main track, drum switches are provided for rotating the trolleys by means of which the panels are supported from positions in alignment with the main track to positions in alignment with the storage tracks to enable shifting of the panels from the main track to a storage position.

This invention relates to a switch mechanism for trolleysupported panels, and more particularly to a device for enabling trolley-supported panels to be moved from an operative position wherein they are arranged in end-toend abutting relation so as to form Ia partition to a storage position, wherein the panels are stacked face-to-face in a storage area while suspended from an overhead track.

The use of trolley-supported panels for dividing a room area into separate areas and therefore enabling the room area to serve a multiple purpose is very common. Such panels are frequently suspended by means of trolleys from an overhead track. One of the problems associated with the use of such panels has to do with the storage of the panels when they are not being used. It is desirable to provide a secondary track system associated with the primary track along which the panels are arranged to form the partition so that the panels can be shifted to `a storage area in an out-of-the-way position and in a compact arrangement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a track system which includes a primary track and a set of secondary storage tracks in combination with a switch mechanism at the intersection of said tracks which enable the trolley-supported panels to be directed from one track to the other with a minimum of inconvenience.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a switch mechanism fora track system of the type described which is of economical construction and reliable operation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is `a somewhat diagrammatic View of a room structure showing a plurality of panels supported from an overhead track in end-to-end relation to form a partition.

FIG. la is a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section and with parts broken away, showing the switch mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, of the switch mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one of the switches.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the switch shown in FIG. 4.

3,341,985 Patented Sept. I9, 1967 ice FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional View along the hne 7-7 111 FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8 8 1n FIG. 5. U

FIG. 9 is a sectional View Ialong the line 9--9 1n FIG. 8.

FIG. l0 is a perspective view of one of the sw1tch drums.

FIG. 11 is a wiring diagram of the switch mechamsm.

FIGS. 1 and la illustrate an arrangement of trolleysupported panels 10 and a track system thereforl with Iwhich the switch mechanism of the present invention 1s adapted to `be used. The track system includes a primary track 12 and a pair of storage tracks 14. The tracks 12 and 14 are located overhead in the room area adapted to be partitioned by the panels 10. Tracks 14 are parallel to one another and are spaced apart in accordance with the spacing between the two trolleys 16 which are swivel- -ly -mounted at the upper end of each panel 10 and by means of which the panels are supported from the track. When the panels 10 are used las a partition, they are supported by the trolleys 16 in end-to-end abutting relation on track 12. When it is desired to store the panels in an out-of-the-way location they are shifted from tracks 14 where they are disposed in face-to-face relation as indicated in FIG. la. The switch mechanism of this invention comprises two switches A and B located at the intersections of track 12 with tracks 14 and adapted to switch the two trolleys 16 on each panel from a position in alignment with tracks 12 to a position in alignment with tracks 14 and vice versa, whenever the two trolleys 16 of any panel are disposed at the intersections of tracks 12 and 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch mechanism includes a pair of support rails 18 which are suitably mounted in an overhead position on the ceiling structure of the room. Rails 118 straddle the track 12. A pair of rotatable drums 20 are journalled for rotation about a vertical axis on the support rails 18. Drums 20 are spaced apart in accordance with the spacing between the two trolleys on each panel, and between the two drums 20 there is arranged a jumper track 22 which spans the distance between the two drums. The two drums 20 of switches A and B are of similar construction and are journalled on the rails 18 by similar means. Accordingly, similar numerals will be used to designate similar parts of these two assemblies.

Referring to FIG. 10, each drum comprises a top plate 24 from which a plurality of four spacer lugs 26 depend. At the lower end of each lug 26 there is lixedly secured a sector 28. The edges of adjacent sectors 28 are spaced apart so as to form two intersecting guideways 30, 3'2 for accommodating the pint-les 34 by means of which the trolleys are swivelly mounted at the upper end of each panel. Each trolley comprises a pair of spaced rollers 36, and the lugs 26 are spaced circumferentially apart so as to form around the periphery of each drum 20 four trolley-receiving openings 318. Referring to FIG. 6, it will be noted that when one of the trolley-receiving openings 38 is aligned with track 12, the next adjacent opening 38 is aligned with one of the tracks 14. The lower sector plates 28 are horizontally aligned with the lower flanges of the tracks, so that when a drum opening 38 is aligned with one of the tracks a trolley is permitted to roll from the track into the drum 20 and if the drum is thereafter rotated the trolley within the drum is then permitted to roll out of the `drum onto another track.

Sector plates 2S form guideways for the trolleys. It will also be noted that the trolley in track 12 is permitted to roll -directly through the drum on the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, onto the jumper track and from the jumper track 22 into the drum at the left.

Referring now to FIG. 5, each drum 2t) has a hollow shaft 40 `fixed to an =projecting upwardly from the central axis of the circular top plate 24. Shaft'40 provides the axis of rotation of each drum 20. The means by which each drum is mounted on the support rails 18 include a base plate 42 which is mounted on and spans rails 18. Base plate 42 has a central opening 44 therein through which extends the shank of a flanged bushing 46. The lower end of bushing 46 extends into a space-r 48 which is sandwiched between the upper face of top plate 24 of drum 20 andthe bottom face of base plate 42. Shaft 40 extends upwardly through spacer 48 and bushing 46 and through a sprocket 50, the hub 52 of which is keyed to the shaft. A cross-member S4 is welded or otherwise secured to the hub 52 of sprocket 50. Drum 20 is secured in position by means of a nut 56 threaded over the upper end of shaft 40 and bearing against a thrust bearing 58.

Within each hollow shaft 40 there is arranged a plunger 60 which at its lower end projects into drum 20 and at its upper end projects upwardly beyond nut 56 and has a pair of adjusting nuts 62 threaded thereon. The nuts 62 engage the 4upper end of shaft 40 to prevent plunger 60 from dropping through shaft 40 and also enable vertical adjust-ment of the plunger. The upper end of each plunger 60 is adapted to actuate the plunger 64 of a microswitch 66. Each microswitch 66 is mounted by means of a pair of adjusting nuts 68 for vertical adjustment on the laterally extending arm 70 of a support bracket 72. Bracket 72 is secured in an upstanding position on base plate 42 by means of screw 74. The switch arrangement is such that when a trolley 16 enters either drum 20 the pintle 34, or other upwardly projecting portion of the trolley, engages the lower end of plunger 60 and shifts the plunger upwardly to actuate microswitch 66.

For rotatably indexing the drums 20 there is provided an electric motor 76 and a speed reducer 78. Speed reducer 78 has a sprocket 80 on the output shaft thereof which is connected by a chain 82 with a sprocket 84. Sprocket 84 is journalled on upstanding shaft 86 fixed to the plate 87 which is adjustably mounted on base plate 42 of switch A by means of `screws 89 passing through oversized holes in plate 87 and threaded into base plate 42. At this point it would be well to mention that the drum 20 of switch A is positively driven by motor 76 and the drum 20 of switch B is driven through a sprocket and chain arrangement, to be described, from the drum 20 of switch A.

The hub 88 of sprocket 84 has secured thereto, as by screws 90, an arm 92 which is adapted to rotate on shaft 86 with sprocket 84. The sprocket and arm assembly 84, 92 is retained on the shaft by collars 94. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be observed that shaft 86 is located adjacent one lateral side of base plate 42 and is therefore laterally offset from the center line between support rails 18. At the opposite ends of arm 92 there are mounted depending pins 96. These pins are adapted, when sprocket 84 is rotated, to interengage with the successive arms 98 of cross-member 54. Arms 98 are four in number and they extend radially outwardly from the axis of rotation of shaft 40 and are spaced apart 90. The arrangement is such that when sprocket 84 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, the pin 96 at one end of arm 92 engages one of the arm 98 and rotates the cross-member 54 through 90 before it disengages the arm. In the position shown in FIG. 2, the pin 96 at the right end of arm 92 is illustrated just as it is moving out of engagement with one of the arm 98 of the cross-member 54. The driving relationship between arrn 92 and cross-member 54, that is, the indexing drive for drum 20, is illustrated most clearly in FIG. 8.

In this connection it will be noted that one of the rails 18 has mounted thereon a bracket 100 provided with an upstanding boss 102 which houses a ball detent 104 biased upwardly by a spring 106 to project outwardly of the upper end of boss 102. Each arm 98 has on its lower face and adjacent the end thereof a recess 108 which is adapted to be engaged by ball 104 to arrest rotation of cross-member 54 after each 90 increment of rotary movement.

Sprocket 50 on the drum shaft 40 of switch A is interconnected with sprocket 50 on the drum shaft 40 of switch B by a chain 110. Chain 110, as can be seen in FIG. 3, is longer than necessary to merely encircle the two sprockets 50, and accordingly there are provided two idler sprockets 112 and 114. Sprocket 112 is adapted to engage one run of chain 110, and is mounted on a transverse bar 116 which is adjustable on rails 18 in a direction transversely thereof, as by means of screws 118 extending through slots 120 in the opposite ends of bar 116. Likewise, idler sprocket 114 bears against the other run of chain 110, and is mounted on the transversely adjustable bar 120a. With this arrangement, it will be observed that if it is desired to rotate one of the drums 20 relative to the other,

-thiscan be accomplished by simply shifting the idler pulleys 112, 114 transversely so as to shift the slack in chain 110 from one side of the sprocket 50 of switch B to the other side thereof.y For example, if it is desired to rotate the drum 20 of switch B slightly in a clockwise 'direction relative to the drum 20 of switch A, idler sprockets 112 and 114 are shifted transversely such that the run of chain 110 against which the idler sprocket 112 bears is in a more straightened condition and the run against which the sprocket 114 bears is more angular.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it will lbe noted that each arm 98 of cross-member 54 has a radially extending pin 122 at the outer end thereof. These pins 122 are adapted to actuate the arm 124 of a second microswitch 126. Microswitch is adjustably mounted on base plate 42 by means of bracket 128.

In the schematic electrical arrangement illustrated in FIG. 7, motor 76, switches 66 and switch 126 are shown in the position they normally assume. One of the microswitches 66, that designated 66a in FIG. 11, has a pair of contacts 130 and 132. Contact 132 is connected to one side of the line power source 125 by a conductor 134, and the other contact is connected to one side of mo'tor 76 by a conductor 136. The contact of the other 'switch 66, that designated 66b in FIG. 11, is connected to lmotor 76 by conductor 138, and the arm of switch 66h is connected to the other side of the line power source by a conductor 140. A normally open relay 142 has its switch arm connected to one side of the line and its closed contact 144 connected to the arm of switch 66a by a conductor 146. The coil 148 of relay 142 is connected to the line of one side, and the other side thereof is connected by a conductor 150 with the normally closed contact 152 of switch 126. The arm of switch 126 is connected with the contact of relay 142 by a conductor 154.

` With the above described arrangement it will be appreciated that both drums 20 are normally positioned so that two of the trolley openings 38 thereof are aligned one with track 12 or the jumper track 22, and the other with the tracks 14. When a panel is rolled axially along kthe track, the leading trolley passes through the drum 20 of switch B, elevates plunger 60 thereof and trips the associated switch 66b. However, the circuit is open through theother switch 66a so the motor 76 remains de-energized. The leading trolley continues through jumper track 22 and eventually the two trolleys enter vthe two drums 20, thus closing both switches 66. Since the arm of switch 66a normally closes with contact 132, the circuit through relay coil 148 is normally closed through contact 144 of the relay and the Contact 152 of switch 126. However, since coil 148 is energized through switch 126, and contact 132 of switch 66a, the arm of the relay closes with the contact 144 and the coil 148 is thus held energized directly through switch 126. When both plungers 60 are elevated, the arm of switch 66a closes with contact 130 and switch 66b closes. Thus, motor 76 is connected to one side of the line through the contact 144 of relay 142, conductor 146 and contact 130 of switch 66a, and to the other side of the line through conductor 140, switch 66b and conductor 138. Both drum switches thus start to rotate by reason of the drive through lever 92 and one of the arms 98 of cross-member 54. When the arm 92 rotates from the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 8 to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8, the projecting pin 122 adjacent switch 126 trips switch 126 and thus opens the circuit through motor 76, even though both plungers 60 of switches A and B remain elevated. Thus the drums of both switches are rotated 90 and the panel supported by the trolleys at these switches can thus be shifted along the storage tracks 14. As soon as these trolleys leave drums 20 both plungers 60 drop, so that switch 66a is again closed through contact 132 and switch 66b opens. The closing of switch 66a and contact 132 again energizes coil 148, so that the arm of relay 142 again closes with contact 144 and conditions the circuit for operation when the trolleys of the next panel enter the drums of the two switches.

In the above-described arrangement, switch 126 is preferably actuated just slightly in advance of the ball detent 104 engaging in the socket 108 of the overlying arm 98 of cross-member 54. By de-energizing the motor 76 just prior to the interengagement of ball detent 104 with an arm 98, there is no need to apply a braking force to the motor, the friction in the drive and the restraining influence of ball detent 104 being suicient to arrest rotation of each shaft 40 with the drum openings 38 with their respective tracks.

We claim:

1. A switch mechanism for selectively aligning the trolley of a trolley-supported panel with either of two angularly related intersecting tracks comprising a support at the intersection of the two tracks, a drurn journalled on the support, said drum having a plurality of circumferentially spaced trolley-receiving openings thereon, the angular relationship of said openings corresponding to the angular relationship of said tracks such that when one of said openings is aligned with one track the other opening is aligned with the other track and means for rotatably indexing said drum through successive angular increments corresponding to the angular relationship of said openings, said last-mentioned means including a power unit for rotating said drum, a switch for energizing said power unit and means within said drum adapted to be engaged by said trolley when said trolley extends into the drum for actuating said switch.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, including a second switch for de-energizing said power means and means rotatable with said drum for actuating said second switch whenever the drum rotates through an angle corresponding to said angular relationship of said openings.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, including means tending to arrest movement of the drum whenever the openings in the drum are aligned with said tracks.

4. In combination, a track, a plurality of panels, each panel having a pair of trolleys swiveled thereon and engaged in the track for supporting the panels in end-toend relation along the extent of the track to form a partition, a pair of parallel tracks spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the trolleys on each panel, said parallel tracks intersecting said rstmentioned track, a pair of rotatable drums located one at each of the intersections of said tracks, each drum having a plurality of trolley-receiving openings thereon which are spaced circumferentially around the drum and angularly related to one another correspond with the angular relationship of the intersecting tracks such that when'one opening inv each drum is aligned with the first track, another opening in each drum is aligned with one of the second tracks and means for rotating both drums through successive increments corresponding to the angular relationship between the openings in each drum so that when the trolleys of a panel are located one in each drum the drums may be rotatably indexed to rotate the trolley from a position in alignment with one of the intersecting tracks to a position in alignment with the other intersecting track, said last-mentioned means including a power unit operably connected with one of said drums, each drum having a sprocket associated therewith, an endless chain trained around said sprockets, said chain having a length greater than that required to encircle the sprockets so as to provide slack therein, and a pair of idler sprockets engaging the chain for taking up the slack, each sprocket engaging one run of the chain, said idler sprockets being shiftable in a direction transversely of the runs of said chain to transfer slack from one run of the chain to the other and thereby enable rotative adjustment of one of said drums relative to the other.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, including means associated with said one drum for releasably restraining rotation of said one drum whenever the openings therein are aligned with said tracks.

6. A switch mechanism for swiveling the trolley of a trolley-supported panel from a position in alignment with one of two intersecting tracks to a position in alignment with the other track, comprising a rotatable drum located at the inersection of the two tracks, said drum having a pluraliy of trolley-receiving openings therein spaced apart circumferentially in accordance with the angular spacing of the two tracks so that when one opening is aligned with one track the other opening is aligned with the other track, said openings being spaced around the entire periphery of the drum, and means for rotating said drum through successive increments in the same direction corresponding to the angular spacing between said openings, said last-mentioned means including means responsive to the entry of a trolley into said drum for initiating rotative movement of the drum.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6, including means for arresting rotation of the drum whenever the drum rotates to a position wherein the openings therein are in alignment with the two tracks.

8. A switch mechanism for swiveling the trolley of a trolley-supported panel from a position in alignment with one of two intersecting tracks to a position in alignment with the other track, comprising a rotatable drum located at the intersection of the two tracks, said drum having a plurality of trolley-receiving openings therein spaced apart circumferentially in accordance with the angular spacing of the two tracks so that when one opening is aligned with one track the other opening is aligned with the other track, said openings being spaced around the entire periphery of the drum, and means for rotating said drum through successive increments in the same direction corresponding to the angular spacing between said openings, said last-mentioned means comprising a rotating driver arm, a driven member operably connected with said drum to rotate the same and having a plurality of radially extending projections which are adapted to be successively engaged by the end portion of said driver arm, the driver arm and the driven member being related such that the arm rotates into engagement with one of said projections when one set of the drum openings are aligned with the two tracks and out of engagement with said one projection when the next successive openings in the drum are in alignment with the two tracks.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8, including an electric motor for rotating said arm and means for de-energizing said motor when the arm rotates out of driving engagement with the projection on the driven member.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9, wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a switch in series circuit with said motor and an actuator for said switch lying in the path of travel of said projections, said projections engaging said switch actuator to open the circuit to the motor.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10, including means forming a socket member and a spring-biased detent member adapted to interengage whenever the drum rotates to a position wherein the openings therein are in alignment with the two tracks and to releasably retain the drum in such position.

12. In a room structure, an overhead primary track, a plurality of panels each having a pair of trolleys swivelly mounted thereon at the upper end thereof and engage in said track to enable the panels to be moved along the track in end-to-end abutting relation to form a partition in said room structure, a pair of parallel panel storage tracks spaced apart in accordance with the trolley spacing on each panel, said storage tracks intersecting the primary track, a pair of track switches located one at each of the intersections of the two storage tracks with the primary track, said switches being rotatable from a position in alignment with the primary track to a position in alignment with the storage tracks, means for rotating one of said switches, a sprocket associated with each of the switches, an endless chain trained around both sprockets, said chain having slack therein and means for adjusting the rotative position of the two sprockets re1ative to one another comprising a pair of idler sprockets, one idler sprocket being engaged with one run of the chain and the other idler sprocket being engaged With the opposite run of the chain, said idler sprockets each being shiftable in a path generally transversely of a line connecting the two switch sprockets to enable shifting of the chain relative to one of the sprockets.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for rotating said one sprocket includes an electric motor, an electric switch adjacent each track switch, said electric switches being in series circuit with said motor and being normally open and being associated with each track switch for closing the electric switch associated with each track switch in response to a trolley entering each track switch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,781 7/ 1904 Sumner 104-99 2,586,264 2/1952 Rose 104-99 X 3,141,207 7/ 1964 Kahler 52-64 FOREIGN PATENTS 687,917 2/ 1940 Austria.

7,820 4/ 1896 Great Britain.

489,049 7/ 1938 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

A. C. PERHAM, Assistant Examinar. 

12. IN A ROOM STRUCTURE, AN OVERHEAD PRIMARY TRACK, A PLURALITY OF PANELS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF TROLLEYS SWIVELLY MOUNTED THEREON AT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND ENGAGE IN SAID TRACK TO ENABLE THE PANELS TO BE MOVED ALONG THE TRACK IN END-TO-END ABUTTING RELATION TO FORM A PARTITION IN SAID ROOM STRUCTURE, A PAIR OF PARALLEL PANEL STORAGE TRACKS SPACED APART IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TROLLEY SPACING ON EACH PANEL, SAID STORAGE TRACKS INTERSECTING THE PRIMARY TRACK, A PAIR OF TRACK SWITCHES LOCATED ONE AT EACH OF THE INTERSECTIONS OF THE TWO STORAGE TRACKS WITH THE PRIMARY TRACK, SAID SWITCHES BEING ROTATABLE FROM A POSITION IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRIMARY TRACK TO A POSITION IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STORAGE TRACKS, MEANS FOR ROTATING ONE OF SAID SWITCHES, A SPROCKET ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THE SWITCHES, AN ENDLESS CHAIN TRAINED AROUND BOTH SPROCKETS, SAID CHAIN HAVING SLACK THEREIN AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE ROTATIVE POSITION OF THE TWO SPROCKETS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER COMPRISING A PAIR OF IDLER SPROCKETS, ONE IDLER SPROCKET BEING ENGAGED WITH ONE RUN OF THE CHAIN AND THE OTHER IDLER SPROCKET BEING ENGAGED WITH THE OPPOSITE RUN OF THE CHAIN, SAID IDLER SPROCKETS EACH BEING SHIFTABLE IN A PATH GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY OF A LINE CONNECTING THE TWO SWITCH SPROCKETS TO ENABLE SHIFTING OF THE CHAIN RELATIVE TO ONE OF THE SPROCKETS. 